Go Forth! Stories of Missions and Resurrection in Albania

by Fr. Luke Veronis

Overview

Of all the stories of the resurrection of the Orthodox Church in formerly communist lands, Albania’s may be the most dramatic. Having been almost exterminated by the atheist government, the Church of Albania has arisen, under the leadership of Archbishop Anastasios, to become a vibrant and growing member of the world Orthodox community. Fr. Luke Veronis and his family served as missionaries to Albania during some of the most crucial years of this resurrection. In these pages, Fr. Luke shares stories of those years—stories of desperate poverty and of heroism, of setbacks and triumphs, of heartbreak and miracles—and calls us all to answer the Lord’s Great Commission: Go Forth!

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013207738
Publisher:	Conciliar Media Ministries
Publication date:	10/24/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Fr Luke A. Veronis has been involved in the Orthodox missionary movement for the past 17 years. Together with his wife Presbytera Faith, he served as a long-term OCMC Missionary in Albania for the past ten and a half years. Albania was one of the most persecuted Communist countries of Eastern Europe, being the only country in the world to totally outlaw any form of religious expression, and the first country to proclaim itself totally atheistic.

During his tenure in Albania, Fr Luke taught at the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy, serving as its co-director from 1998-2003. More than 130 of the school’s graduates have become priests during the past decade. Fr Luke also had a special weekly outreach to students at the University of Tirana. Six judges now serving Albania’s higher courts are among his former students. The Veronises helped establish a vibrant youth movement around the country with a focus on the summer Church camp programs.

Prior to Albania, Fr Luke served in Africa as a short-term missionary in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana for eighteen months. He and African co-workers constructed five stone churches, a medical clinic, and mission house. He also led teaching and youth ministry teams to numerous villages.

His published works include the book Missionaries, Monks, and Martyrs: Making Disciples of All Nations, and articles in various missionary journals and books.

Fr Luke graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of World Mission in 1993 with a ThM (Masters of Theology in Missiology), Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 1992 with a Masters of Divinity (highest distinction), and Pennsylvania State University in 1987 with a BS in Secondary Education/Mathematics.

Fr Luke is presently pastoring the Sts Constantine and Helen Church in Webster, MA, while teaching mission classes at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and Hellenic College.

He and Presbytera Faith have four children.